Parcel Theft Deterrence for Audio/Video Recording and Communication Devices

ABSTRACT

Methods for audio/video (A/V) recording and communication devices including a camera, are provided. One such method comprises determining that a parcel has been left within an area about the A/V recording and communication device, determining that the parcel has been removed from the area about the A/V recording and communication device, determining whether removal of the parcel from the area about the A/V recording and communication device was authorized, and when the removal of the parcel from the area about the A/V recording and communication device is determined to have been unauthorized, generating an alert.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to provisional application Ser. No.62/479,060, filed on Mar. 30, 2017, and provisional application Ser. No.62/374,505, filed on Aug. 12, 2016. The entire contents of the priorityapplications are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present embodiments relate to audio/video (A/V) recording andcommunication devices, including A/V recording and communicationdoorbell systems. In particular, the present embodiments relate toimprovements in the functionality of A/V recording and communicationdevices that strengthen the ability of such devices to deter parceltheft and/or to identify and apprehend parcel thieves.

BACKGROUND

Home security is a concern for many homeowners and renters. Thoseseeking to protect or monitor their homes often wish to have video andaudio communications with visitors, for example, those visiting anexternal door or entryway. Audio/Video (A/V) recording and communicationdevices, such as doorbells, provide this functionality, and can also aidin crime detection and prevention. For example, audio and/or videocaptured by an A/V recording and communication device can be uploaded tothe cloud and recorded on a remote server. Subsequent review of the A/Vfootage can aid law enforcement in capturing perpetrators of homeburglaries and other crimes. Further, the presence of one or more A/Vrecording and communication devices on the exterior of a home, such as adoorbell unit at the entrance to the home, acts as a powerful deterrentagainst would-be burglars.

SUMMARY

The various embodiments of the present parcel theft deterrence foraudio/video (A/V) recording and communication devices have severalfeatures, no single one of which is solely responsible for theirdesirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of the presentembodiments as expressed by the claims that follow, their more prominentfeatures now will be discussed briefly. After considering thisdiscussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled“Detailed Description,” one will understand how the features of thepresent embodiments provide the advantages described herein.

One aspect of the present embodiments includes the realization thatparcel pilferage is a pernicious and persistent problem. Parcel carriersfrequently leave parcels near the front door of a home when no oneanswers the door at the time of delivery. These parcels are vulnerableto theft, as they are often clearly visible from the street. Thisproblem has only gotten worse with the proliferation of online commerce,and is particularly common around major holidays when many consumers dotheir holiday shopping online. It would be advantageous, therefore, ifthe functionality of A/V recording and communication devices could beleveraged to deter parcel theft and/or to identify and apprehend parcelthieves. It would also be advantageous if the functionality of A/Vrecording and communication devices could be enhanced in one or moreways to deter parcel theft and/or to identify and apprehend parcelthieves. The present embodiments provide these advantages andenhancements, as described below.

In a first aspect, a method for an audio/video (A/V) recording andcommunication device, the device including a camera, is provided, themethod comprising determining that a parcel has been left within an areaabout the A/V recording and communication device, determining that theparcel has been removed from the area about the A/V recording andcommunication device, determining whether removal of the parcel from thearea about the A/V recording and communication device was authorized,and when the removal of the parcel from the area about the A/V recordingand communication device is determined to have been unauthorized,generating an alert.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, determining that the parcel hasbeen left within the area about the A/V recording and communicationdevice comprises comparing video frames recorded by the camera of theA/V recording and communication device.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, determining that the parcelhas been left in the area about the A/V recording and communicationdevice comprises receiving information from a carrier that delivered theparcel.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, determining that the parcelhas been left within the area about the A/V recording and communicationdevice comprises automatic identification and data capture (AIDC).

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the AIDC comprises at leastone of a barcode, a matrix code, a bokode, and radio frequencyidentification (RFID).

In another embodiment of the first aspect, determining that the parcelhas been removed from the area about the A/V recording and communicationdevice comprises comparing video frames recorded by the camera of theA/V recording and communication device.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, determining that the parcelhas been removed from the area about the A/V recording and communicationdevice comprises automatic identification and data capture (AIDC).

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the AIDC comprises radiofrequency identification (RFID).

In another embodiment of the first aspect, determining whether removalof the parcel from the area about the A/V recording and communicationdevice was authorized comprises detecting a direction of movement of theparcel.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, determining whether removalof the parcel from the area about the A/V recording and communicationdevice was authorized comprises automatic identification and datacapture (AIDC).

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the AIDC comprises at leastone of a barcode, a matrix code, a bokode, radio frequencyidentification (RFID), a smart card, a magnetic stripe, opticalcharacter recognition (OCR), biometrics, voice recognition, facialrecognition, three-dimensional facial recognition, and skin textureanalysis.

Another embodiment of the first aspect further comprises comparinginformation received through the AIDC to information about one or morepersons.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the one or more personscomprise at least one perpetrator of one or more parcel thefts.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the one or more parcel theftsoccurred within a defined radius about the A/V recording andcommunication device.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the alert comprises an alertsignal sent to a client device.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the alert comprises anaudible alarm emitted from a speaker of the A/V recording andcommunication device.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the alert comprises anannouncement emitted from a speaker of the A/V recording andcommunication device, the announcement comprising a warning that thearea about the A/V recording and communication device is being recorded.

Another embodiment of the first aspect further comprises identifying theparcel.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, identifying the parcelcomprises the camera of the A/V recording and communication devicecapturing an image of an identifying mark on the parcel.

In a second aspect, a method for an audio/video (A/V) recording andcommunication device, the device including a camera, is provided, themethod comprising determining that a parcel has been left within an areaabout the A/V recording and communication device, after the parcel hasbeen left within the area about the A/V recording and communicationdevice, detecting a person within the area about the A/V recording andcommunication device, recording, with the camera of the A/V recordingand communication device, video images of the person within the areaabout the A/V recording and communication device, and emitting an alertfrom the speaker of the A/V recording and communication device.

In an embodiment of the second aspect, the alert comprises an audiblealarm.

In another embodiment of the second aspect, the alert comprises anannouncement warning the detected person that he or she is beingrecorded.

In a third aspect, a method for an audio/video (A/V) recording andcommunication device, the device including a camera, is provided, themethod comprising determining that a parcel has been left within an areaabout the A/V recording and communication device, wherein determiningthat the parcel has been left within the area about the A/V recordingand communication device comprises comparing video frames recorded bythe camera of the A/V recording and communication device, determiningthat the parcel has been removed from the area about the A/V recordingand communication device, wherein determining that the parcel has beenremoved from the area about the A/V recording and communication devicecomprises comparing video frames recorded by the camera of the A/Vrecording and communication device, determining whether removal of theparcel from the area about the A/V recording and communication devicewas authorized, wherein determining whether removal of the parcel fromthe area about the A/V recording and communication device was authorizedcomprises automatic identification and data capture (AIDC), and when theremoval of the parcel from the area about the A/V recording andcommunication device is determined to have been unauthorized, generatingan alert.

In an embodiment of the third aspect, the AIDC comprises at least one ofradio frequency identification (RFID) and biometrics.

In another embodiment of the third aspect, the AIDC comprises the cameraof the A/V recording and communication device capturing an image of aperson in the area about the A/V recording and communication device.

In another embodiment of the third aspect, the image of the personcomprises an image of the person's face.

Another embodiment of the third aspect further comprises comparing theimage of the person to at least one image of at least one other person.

In another embodiment of the third aspect, the removal of the parcelfrom the area about the A/V recording and communication device isdetermined to have been unauthorized when there is a match between theimage of the person captured by the camera of the A/V recording andcommunication device and the at least one image of the at least oneother person.

In a fourth aspect, a method for an audio/video (A/V) recording andcommunication device, the device including a processor and a camera, thedevice being communicatively connected to at least one network device,is provided, the method comprising determining that a parcel has beenleft within an area about the A/V recording and communication device,wherein determining that the parcel has been left within the area aboutthe A/V recording and communication device comprises the processor ofthe A/V recording and communication device comparing video framesrecorded by the camera of the A/V recording and communication device,determining that the parcel has been removed from the area about the A/Vrecording and communication device, wherein determining that the parcelhas been removed from the area about the A/V recording and communicationdevice comprises the processor of the A/V recording and communicationdevice comparing video frames recorded by the camera of the A/Vrecording and communication device, determining whether removal of theparcel from the area about the A/V recording and communication devicewas authorized, wherein determining whether removal of the parcel fromthe area about the A/V recording and communication device was authorizedcomprises automatic identification and data capture (AIDC), and when theremoval of the parcel from the area about the A/V recording andcommunication device is determined to have been unauthorized, generatingan alert.

In an embodiment of the fourth aspect, the AIDC comprises at least oneof radio frequency identification (RFID) and biometrics.

In another embodiment of the fourth aspect, the AIDC comprises thecamera of the A/V recording and communication device capturing an imageof a person in the area about the A/V recording and communicationdevice.

In another embodiment of the fourth aspect, the image of the personcomprises an image of the person's face.

Another embodiment of the fourth aspect further comprises the at leastone network device receiving the image of the person.

Another embodiment of the fourth aspect further comprises the at leastone network device comparing the image of the person to at least oneimage of at least one other person.

In another embodiment of the fourth aspect, the removal of the parcelfrom the area about the A/V recording and communication device isdetermined to have been unauthorized when there is a match between theimage of the person captured by the camera of the A/V recording andcommunication device and the at least one image of the at least oneother person.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various embodiments of the present parcel theft deterrence foraudio/video (A/V) recording and communication devices now will bediscussed in detail with an emphasis on highlighting the advantageousfeatures. These embodiments depict the novel and non-obvious parceltheft deterrence for A/V recording and communication devices shown inthe accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only.These drawings include the following figures, in which like numeralsindicate like parts:

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a system for streamingand storing A/V content captured by an audio/video (A/V) recording andcommunication device according to various aspects of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process for streaming and storingA/V content from an A/V recording and communication device according tovarious aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating an embodiment of anA/V recording and communication device according to the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of an A/V recordingand communication device according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the A/V recording and communicationdevice of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partially exploded front perspective view of the A/Vrecording and communication device of FIG. 4 showing the cover removed;

FIGS. 7-9 are front perspective views of various internal components ofthe A/V recording and communication device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a right-side cross-sectional view of the A/V recording andcommunication device of FIG. 4 taken through the line 10-10 in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 11-13 are rear perspective views of various internal components ofthe A/V recording and communication device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a process fordeterring parcel theft with an A/V recording and communication deviceaccording to various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram illustrating an embodiment of a processfor deterring parcel theft with an A/V recording and communicationdevice according to various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 16 is a front elevation view of a barcode;

FIG. 17 is a front elevation view of a matrix code;

FIG. 18 is a front elevation view of a bokode;

FIG. 19 is a front elevation view of a radio frequency identification(RFID) tag;

FIG. 20 is a sequence diagram illustrating an embodiment of a processfor deterring parcel theft with an A/V recording and communicationdevice according to various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 21 is a front elevation view of a smart card;

FIG. 22 is a rear elevation view of a magnetic stripe card;

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a process fordeterring parcel theft with an A/V recording and communication deviceaccording to various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of a process fordeterring parcel theft with an A/V recording and communication deviceaccording to various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 25 is a functional block diagram of a client device on which thepresent embodiments may be implemented according to various aspects ofthe present disclosure; and

FIG. 26 is a functional block diagram of a general-purpose computingsystem on which the present embodiments may be implemented according tovarious aspects of present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description describes the present embodimentswith reference to the drawings. In the drawings, reference numbers labelelements of the present embodiments. These reference numbers arereproduced below in connection with the discussion of the correspondingdrawing features.

The embodiments of the present parcel theft deterrence for audio/video(A/V) recording and communication devices are described below withreference to the figures. These figures, and their written descriptions,indicate that certain components of the apparatus are formed integrally,and certain other components are formed as separate pieces. Those ofordinary skill in the art will appreciate that components shown anddescribed herein as being formed integrally may in alternativeembodiments be formed as separate pieces. Those of ordinary skill in theart will further appreciate that components shown and described hereinas being formed as separate pieces may in alternative embodiments beformed integrally. Further, as used herein the term integral describes asingle unitary piece.

With reference to FIG. 1, the present embodiments include an audio/video(A/V) device 100 (e.g., a doorbell or a security camera). While thepresent disclosure provides numerous examples of methods and systemsincluding A/V recording and communication doorbells, the presentembodiments are equally applicable for A/V recording and communicationdevices other than doorbells. For example, the present embodiments mayinclude one or more A/V recording and communication security camerasinstead of, or in addition to, one or more A/V recording andcommunication doorbells. An example A/V recording and communicationsecurity camera may include substantially all of the structure andfunctionality of the doorbells described herein, but without the frontbutton and related components.

The A/V recording and communication device 100 is typically located nearthe entrance to a structure (not shown), such as a dwelling, a business,a storage facility, etc. The A/V recording and communication device 100includes a camera 102, a microphone 104, and a speaker 106. The camera102 may comprise, for example, a high definition (HD) video camera, suchas one capable of capturing video images at an image display resolutionof 1080 p or better. While not shown, the A/V recording andcommunication device 100 may also include other hardware and/orcomponents, such as a housing, one or more motion sensors (and/or othertypes of sensors), a button, etc. The A/V recording and communicationdevice 100 may further include similar componentry and/or functionalityas the wireless communication doorbells described in US PatentApplication Publication Nos. 2015/0022620 (U.S. application Ser. No.14/499,828) and 2015/0022618 (U.S. application Ser. No. 14/334,922),both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entiretiesas if fully set forth.

With further reference to FIG. 1, the A/V recording and communicationdevice 100 communicates with a user's network 110, which may be forexample a wired and/or wireless network. If the user's network 110 iswireless, or includes a wireless component, the network 110 may be aWi-Fi network compatible with the IEEE 802.11 standard and/or otherwireless communication standard(s). The user's network 110 is connectedto another network 112, which may comprise, for example, the Internetand/or a public switched telephone network (PSTN). As described below,the A/V recording and communication device 100 may communicate with theuser's client device 114 via the network 110 and the network 112(Internet/PSTN). The user's client device 114 may comprise, for example,a mobile telephone (may also be referred to as a cellular telephone),such as a smartphone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or anothercommunication device. The user's client device 114 comprises a display(not shown) and related components capable of displaying streamingand/or recorded video images. The user's client device 114 may alsocomprise a speaker and related components capable of broadcastingstreaming and/or recorded audio, and may also comprise a microphone. TheA/V recording and communication device 100 may also communicate with oneor more remote storage device(s) 116 (may be referred to interchangeablyas “cloud storage device(s)”), one or more servers 118, and/or a backendAPI (application programming interface)120 via the network 110 and thenetwork 112 (Internet/PSTN). While FIG. 1 illustrates the storage device116, the server 118, and the backend API 120 as components separate fromthe network 112, it is to be understood that the storage device 116, theserver 118, and/or the backend API 120 may be considered to becomponents of the network 112.

The network 112 may be any wireless network or any wired network, or acombination thereof, configured to operatively couple theabove-mentioned modules, devices, and systems as shown in FIG. 1. Forexample, the network 112 may include one or more of the following: aPSTN (public switched telephone network), the Internet, a localintranet, a PAN (Personal Area Network), a LAN (Local Area Network), aWAN (Wide Area Network), a MAN (Metropolitan Area Network), a virtualprivate network (VPN), a storage area network (SAN), a frame relayconnection, an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) connection, asynchronous optical network (SONET) connection, a digital T1, T3, E1 orE3 line, a Digital Data Service (DDS) connection, a DSL (DigitalSubscriber Line) connection, an Ethernet connection, an ISDN (IntegratedServices Digital Network) line, a dial-up port such as a V.90, V.34, orV.34bis analog modem connection, a cable modem, an ATM (AsynchronousTransfer Mode) connection, or an FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface)or CDDI (Copper Distributed Data Interface) connection. Furthermore,communications may also include links to any of a variety of wirelessnetworks, including WAP (Wireless Application Protocol), GPRS (GeneralPacket Radio Service), GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication),LTE, VoLTE, LoRaWAN, LPWAN, RPMA, LTE Cat-“X” (e.g. LTE Cat 1, LTE Cat0, LTE CatM1, LTE Cat NB1), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), TDMA(Time Division Multiple Access), FDMA (Frequency Division MultipleAccess), and/or OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access)cellular phone networks, GPS, CDPD (cellular digital packet data), RIM(Research in Motion, Limited) duplex paging network, Bluetooth radio, oran IEEE 802.11-based radio frequency network. The network can furtherinclude or interface with any one or more of the following: RS-232serial connection, IEEE-1394 (Firewire) connection, Fibre Channelconnection, IrDA (infrared) port, SCSI (Small Computer SystemsInterface) connection, USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection, or otherwired or wireless, digital or analog, interface or connection, mesh orDigi® networking.

According to one or more aspects of the present embodiments, when aperson (may be referred to interchangeably as “visitor”) arrives at theA/V recording and communication device 100, the A/V recording andcommunication device 100 detects the visitor's presence and beginscapturing video images within a field of view of the camera 102. The A/Vcommunication device 100 may also capture audio through the microphone104. The A/V recording and communication device 100 may detect thevisitor's presence using a motion sensor, and/or by detecting that thevisitor has depressed the button on the A/V recording and communicationdevice 100.

In response to the detection of the visitor, the A/V recording andcommunication device 100 sends an alert to the user's client device 114(FIG. 1) via the user's network 110 and the network 112. The A/Vrecording and communication device 100 also sends streaming video, andmay also send streaming audio, to the user's client device 114. If theuser answers the alert, two-way audio communication may then occurbetween the visitor and the user through the A/V recording andcommunication device 100 and the user's client device 114. The user mayview the visitor throughout the duration of the call, but the visitorcannot see the user (unless the A/V recording and communication device100 includes a display, which it may in some embodiments).

The video images captured by the camera 102 of the A/V recording andcommunication device 100 (and the audio captured by the microphone 104)may be uploaded to the cloud and recorded on the remote storage device116 (FIG. 1). In some embodiments, the video and/or audio may berecorded on the remote storage device 116 even if the user chooses toignore the alert sent to his or her client device 114.

With further reference to FIG. 1, the system may further comprise abackend API 120 including one or more components. A backend API(application programming interface) may comprise, for example, a server(e.g. a real server, or a virtual machine, or a machine running in acloud infrastructure as a service), or multiple servers networkedtogether, exposing at least one API to client(s) accessing it. Theseservers may include components such as application servers (e.g.software servers), depending upon what other components are included,such as a caching layer, or database layers, or other components. Abackend API may, for example, comprise many such applications, each ofwhich communicate with one another using their public APIs. In someembodiments, the API backend may hold the bulk of the user data andoffer the user management capabilities, leaving the clients to have verylimited state.

The backend API 120 illustrated FIG. 1 may include one or more APIs. AnAPI is a set of routines, protocols, and tools for building software andapplications. An API expresses a software component in terms of itsoperations, inputs, outputs, and underlying types, definingfunctionalities that are independent of their respectiveimplementations, which allows definitions and implementations to varywithout compromising the interface. Advantageously, an API may provide aprogrammer with access to an application's functionality without theprogrammer needing to modify the application itself, or even understandhow the application works. An API may be for a web-based system, anoperating system, or a database system, and it provides facilities todevelop applications for that system using a given programming language.In addition to accessing databases or computer hardware like hard diskdrives or video cards, an API can ease the work of programming GUIcomponents. For example, an API can facilitate integration of newfeatures into existing applications (a so-called “plug-in API”). An APIcan also assist otherwise distinct applications with sharing data, whichcan help to integrate and enhance the functionalities of theapplications.

The backend API 120 illustrated in FIG. 1 may further include one ormore services (also referred to as network services). A network serviceis an application that provides data storage, manipulation,presentation, communication, and/or other capability. Network servicesare often implemented using a client-server architecture based onapplication-layer network protocols. Each service may be provided by aserver component running on one or more computers (such as a dedicatedserver computer offering multiple services) and accessed via a networkby client components running on other devices. However, the client andserver components can both be run on the same machine. Clients andservers may have a user interface, and sometimes other hardwareassociated with them.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process for streaming and storingA/V content from the A/V recording and communication device 100according to various aspects of the present disclosure. At block B260,the A/V recording and communication device 100 (e.g., an A/V recordingand communication device, such as a doorbell) detects the visitor'spresence and captures video images within a field of view of the camera102. The A/V recording and communication device 100 may also captureaudio through the microphone 104. As described above, the A/V recordingand communication device 100 may detect the visitor's presence bydetecting motion using the camera 102 and/or a motion sensor, and/or bydetecting that the visitor has pressed a front button of the A/Vrecording and communication device 100 (if the A/V recording andcommunication device 100 is a doorbell). Also, as described above, thevideo recording/capture may begin when the visitor is detected, or maybegin earlier, as described below.

At block B262, a communication module of the A/V recording andcommunication device 100 sends a request, via the user's network 110 andthe network 112, to a device in the network 112. For example, thenetwork device to which the request is sent may be a server such as theserver 118. The server 118 may comprise a computer program and/or amachine that waits for requests from other machines or software(clients) and responds to them. A server typically processes data. Onepurpose of a server is to share data and/or hardware and/or softwareresources among clients. This architecture is called the client-servermodel. The clients may run on the same computer or may connect to theserver over a network. Examples of computing servers include databaseservers, file servers, mail servers, print servers, web servers, gameservers, and application servers. The term server may be construedbroadly to include any computerized process that shares a resource toone or more client processes. In another example, the network device towhich the request is sent may be an API such as the backend API 120,which is described above.

In response to the request, at block B264 the network device may connectthe A/V recording and communication device 100 to the user's clientdevice 114 through the user's network 110 and the network 112. At blockB266, the A/V recording and communication device 100 may recordavailable audio and/or video data using the camera 102, the microphone104, and/or any other device/sensor available. At block B268, the audioand/or video data is transmitted (streamed) from the A/V recording andcommunication device 100 to the user's client device 114 via the user'snetwork 110 and the network 112. At block B270, the user may receive anotification on his or her client device 114 with a prompt to eitheraccept or deny the call.

At block B272, the process determines whether the user has accepted ordenied the call. If the user denies the notification, then the processadvances to block B274, where the audio and/or video data is recordedand stored at a cloud server. The session then ends at block B276 andthe connection between the A/V recording and communication device 100and the user's client device 114 is terminated. If, however, the useraccepts the notification, then at block B278 the user communicates withthe visitor through the user's client device 114 while audio and/orvideo data captured by the camera 102, the microphone 104, and/or otherdevices/sensors is streamed to the user's client device 114. At the endof the call, the user may terminate the connection between the user'sclient device 114 and the A/V recording and communication device 100 andthe session ends at block B276. In some embodiments, the audio and/orvideo data may be recorded and stored at a cloud server (block B274)even if the user accepts the notification and communicates with thevisitor through the user's client device 114.

FIGS. 3-13 illustrate one embodiment of a low-power-consumption A/Vrecording and communication device 130 according to various aspects ofthe present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagramillustrating various components of the A/V recording and communicationdevice 130 and their relationships to one another. For example, the A/Vrecording and communication device 130 includes a pair of terminals 131,132 configured to be connected to a source of external AC(alternating-current) power, such as a household AC power supply 134(may also be referred to as AC mains). The AC power 134 may have avoltage in the range of 16-24 VAC, for example. The incoming AC power134 may be converted to DC (direct-current) by an AC/DC rectifier 136.An output of the AC/DC rectifier 136 may be connected to an input of aDC/DC converter 138, which may step down the voltage from the output ofthe AC/DC rectifier 136 from 16-24 VDC to a lower voltage of about 5VDC, for example. In various embodiments, the output of the DC/DCconverter 138 may be in a range of from about 2.5 V to about 7.5 V, forexample.

With further reference to FIG. 3, the output of the DC/DC converter 138is connected to a power manager 140, which may comprise an integratedcircuit including a processor core, memory, and/or programmableinput/output peripherals. In one non-limiting example, the power manager140 may be an off-the-shelf component, such as the BQ24773 chipmanufactured by Texas Instruments. As described in detail below, thepower manager 140 controls, among other things, an amount of power drawnfrom the external power supply 134, as well as an amount of supplementalpower drawn from a battery 142, to power the A/V recording andcommunication device 130. The power manager 140 may, for example, limitthe amount of power drawn from the external power supply 134 so that athreshold power draw is not exceeded. In one non-limiting example, thethreshold power, as measured at the output of the DC/DC converter 138,may be equal to 1.4 A. The power manager 140 may also control an amountof power drawn from the external power supply 134 and directed to thebattery 142 for recharging of the battery 142. An output of the powermanager 140 is connected to a power sequencer 144, which controls asequence of power delivery to other components of the A/V recording andcommunication device 130, including a communication module 146, a frontbutton 148, a microphone 150, a speaker driver 151, a speaker 152, anaudio CODEC (Coder-DECoder) 153, a camera 154, an infrared (IR) lightsource 156, an IR cut filter 158, a processor 160 (may also be referredto as a controller 160), a plurality of light indicators 162, and acontroller 164 for the light indicators 162. Each of these components isdescribed in detail below. The power sequencer 144 may comprise anintegrated circuit including a processor core, memory, and/orprogrammable input/output peripherals. In one non-limiting example, thepower sequencer 144 may be an off-the-shelf component, such as theRT5024 chip manufactured by Richtek.

With further reference to FIG. 3, the A/V recording and communicationdevice 130 further comprises an electronic switch 166 that closes whenthe front button 148 is depressed. When the electronic switch 166closes, power from the AC power source 134 is diverted through asignaling device 168 that is external to the A/V recording andcommunication device 130 to cause the signaling device 168 to emit asound, as further described below. In one non-limiting example, theelectronic switch 166 may be a triac device. The A/V recording andcommunication device 130 further comprises a reset button 170 configuredto initiate a hard reset of the processor 160, as further describedbelow.

With further reference to FIG. 3, the processor 160 may perform dataprocessing and various other functions, as described below. Theprocessor 160 may comprise an integrated circuit including a processorcore, memory 172, non-volatile memory 174, and/or programmableinput/output peripherals (not shown). The memory 172 may comprise, forexample, DDR3 (double data rate type three synchronous dynamicrandom-access memory). The non-volatile memory 174 may comprise, forexample, NAND flash memory. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, thememory 172 and the non-volatile memory 174 are illustrated within thebox representing the processor 160. It is to be understood that theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 is merely an example, and in someembodiments the memory 172 and/or the non-volatile memory 174 are notnecessarily physically incorporated with the processor 160. The memory172 and/or the non-volatile memory 174, regardless of their physicallocation, may be shared by one or more other components (in addition tothe processor 160) of the present A/V recording and communication device130.

The transfer of digital audio between the user and a visitor may becompressed and decompressed using the audio CODEC 153, which isoperatively coupled to the processor 160. When the visitor speaks, audiofrom the visitor is compressed by the audio CODEC 153, digital audiodata is sent through the communication module 146 to the network 112 viathe user's network 110, routed by the server 118 and delivered to theuser's client device 114. When the user speaks, after being transferredthrough the network 112, the user's network 110, and the communicationmodule 146, the digital audio data is decompressed by the audio CODEC153 and emitted to the visitor through the speaker 152, which is drivenby the speaker driver 151.

With further reference to FIG. 3, some of the present embodiments mayinclude a shunt 176 connected in parallel with the signaling device 168.The shunt 176 facilitates the ability of the A/V recording andcommunication device 130 to draw power from the AC power source 134without inadvertently triggering the signaling device 168. The shunt176, during normal standby operation, presents a relatively lowelectrical impedance, such as a few ohms, across the terminals of thesignaling device 168. Most of the current drawn by the A/V recording andcommunication device 130, therefore, flows through the shunt 176, andnot through the signaling device 168. The shunt 176, however, containselectronic circuitry (described below) that switches the shunt 176between a state of low impedance, such as a few ohms, for example, and astate of high impedance, such as >1 K ohms, for example. When the frontbutton 148 of the A/V recording and communication device 130 is pressed,the electronic switch 166 closes, causing the voltage from the AC powersource 134 to be impressed mostly across the shunt 176 and the signalingdevice 168 in parallel, while a small amount of voltage, such as about1V, is impressed across the electronic switch 166. The circuitry in theshunt 176 senses this voltage, and switches the shunt 176 to the highimpedance state, so that power from the AC power source 134 is divertedthrough the signaling device 168. The diverted AC power 134 is above thethreshold necessary to cause the signaling device 168 to emit a sound.Pressing the front button 148 of the device 130 therefore causes thesignaling device 168 to “ring,” alerting any person(s) within thestructure to which the device 130 is mounted that there is a visitor atthe front door (or at another location corresponding to the location ofthe device 130). In one non-limiting example, the electronic switch 166may be a triac device.

With reference to FIGS. 4-6, the A/V recording and communication device130 further comprises a housing 178 having an enclosure 180 (FIG. 6), aback plate 182 secured to the rear of the enclosure 180, and a shell 184overlying the enclosure 180. With reference to FIG. 6, the shell 184includes a recess 186 that is sized and shaped to receive the enclosure180 in a close fitting engagement, such that outer surfaces of theenclosure 180 abut conforming inner surfaces of the shell 184. Exteriordimensions of the enclosure 180 may be closely matched with interiordimensions of the shell 184 such that friction maintains the shell 184about the enclosure 180. Alternatively, or in addition, the enclosure180 and/or the shell 184 may include mating features 188, such as one ormore tabs, grooves, slots, posts, etc. to assist in maintaining theshell 184 about the enclosure 180. The back plate 182 is sized andshaped such that the edges of the back plate 182 extend outward from theedges of the enclosure 180, thereby creating a lip 190 against which theshell 184 abuts when the shell 184 is mated with the enclosure 180, asshown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In some embodiments, multiple shells 184 indifferent colors may be provided so that the end user may customize theappearance of his or her A/V recording and communication device 130. Forexample, the A/V recording and communication device 130 may be packagedand sold with multiple shells 184 in different colors in the samepackage.

With reference to FIG. 4, a front surface of the A/V recording andcommunication device 130 includes the button 148 (may also be referredto as front button 148, FIG. 3), which is operatively connected to theprocessor 160. In a process similar to that described above withreference to FIG. 2, when a visitor presses the front button 148, analert may be sent to the user's client device to notify the user thatsomeone is at his or her front door (or at another locationcorresponding to the location of the A/V recording and communicationdevice 130). With further reference to FIG. 4, the A/V recording andcommunication device 130 further includes the camera 154, which isoperatively connected to the processor 160, and which is located behinda shield 192. As described in detail below, the camera 154 is configuredto capture video images from within its field of view. Those videoimages can be streamed to the user's client device and/or uploaded to aremote network device for later viewing according to a process similarto that described above with reference to FIG. 2.

With reference to FIG. 5, a pair of terminal screws 194 extends throughthe back plate 182. The terminal screws 194 are connected at their innerends to the terminals 131, 132 (FIG. 3) within the A/V recording andcommunication device 130. The terminal screws 194 are configured toreceive electrical wires to connect to the A/V recording andcommunication device 130, through the terminals 131, 132, to thehousehold AC power supply 134 of the structure on which the A/Vrecording and communication device 130 is mounted. In the illustratedembodiment, the terminal screws 194 are located within a recessedportion 196 of the rear surface 198 of the back plate 182 so that theterminal screws 194 do not protrude from the outer envelope of the A/Vrecording and communication device 130. The A/V recording andcommunication device 130 can thus be mounted to a mounting surface withthe rear surface 198 of the back plate 182 abutting the mountingsurface. The back plate 182 includes apertures 200 adjacent its upperand lower edges to accommodate mounting hardware, such as screws (notshown), for securing the back plate 182 (and thus the A/V recording andcommunication device 130) to the mounting surface. With reference toFIG. 6, the enclosure 180 includes corresponding apertures 202 adjacentits upper and lower edges that align with the apertures 200 in the backplate 182 to accommodate the mounting hardware. In certain embodiments,the A/V recording and communication device 130 may include a mountingplate or bracket (not shown) to facilitate securing the A/V recordingand communication device 130 to the mounting surface.

With further reference to FIG. 6, the shell 184 includes a centralopening 204 in a front surface. The central opening 204 is sized andshaped to accommodate the shield 192. In the illustrated embodiment, theshield 192 is substantially rectangular, and includes a central opening206 through which the front button 148 protrudes. The shield 192 definesa plane parallel to and in front of a front surface 208 of the enclosure180. When the shell 184 is mated with the enclosure 180, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 10, the shield 192 resides within the central opening 204 ofthe shell 184 such that a front surface 210 of the shield 192 issubstantially flush with a front surface 212 of the shell 184 and thereis little or no gap (FIG. 4) between the outer edges of the shield 192and the inner edges of the central opening 204 in the shell 184.

With further reference to FIG. 6, the shield 192 includes an upperportion 214 (located above and to the sides of the front button 148) anda lower portion 216 (located below and to the sides of the front button148). The upper and lower portions 214, 216 of the shield 192 may beseparate pieces, and may comprise different materials. The upper portion214 of the shield 192 may be transparent or translucent so that it doesnot interfere with the field of view of the camera 154. For example, incertain embodiments the upper portion 214 of the shield 192 may compriseglass or plastic. As described in detail below, the microphone 150,which is operatively connected to the processor 160, is located behindthe upper portion 214 of the shield 192. The upper portion 214,therefore, may include an opening 218 that facilitates the passage ofsound through the shield 192 so that the microphone 150 is better ableto pick up sounds from the area around the A/V recording andcommunication device 130.

The lower portion 216 of the shield 192 may comprise a material that issubstantially transparent to infrared (IR) light, but partially ormostly opaque with respect to light in the visible spectrum. Forexample, in certain embodiments the lower portion 216 of the shield 192may comprise a plastic, such as polycarbonate. The lower portion 216 ofthe shield 192, therefore, does not interfere with transmission of IRlight from the IR light source 156, which is located behind the lowerportion 216. As described in detail below, the IR light source 156 andthe IR cut filter 158, which are both operatively connected to theprocessor 160, facilitate “night vision” functionality of the camera154.

The upper portion 214 and/or the lower portion 216 of the shield 192 mayabut an underlying cover 220 (FIG. 10), which may be integral with theenclosure 180 or may be a separate piece. The cover 220, which may beopaque, may include a first opening 222 corresponding to the location ofthe camera 154, a second opening (not shown) corresponding to thelocation of the microphone 150 and the opening 218 in the upper portion214 of the shield 192, and a third opening (not shown) corresponding tothe location of the IR light source 156.

FIGS. 7-10 illustrate various internal components of the A/V recordingand communication device 130. FIGS. 7-9 are front perspective views ofthe device 130 with the shell 184 and the enclosure 180 removed, whileFIG. 10 is a right-side cross-sectional view of the device 130 takenthrough the line 10-10 in FIG. 4. With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, theA/V recording and communication device 130 further comprises a mainprinted circuit board (PCB) 224 and a front PCB 226. With reference toFIG. 8, the front PCB 226 comprises a button actuator 228. Withreference to FIGS. 7, 8, and 10, the front button 148 is located infront of the button actuator 228. The front button 148 includes a stem230 (FIG. 10) that extends into the housing 178 to contact the buttonactuator 228. When the front button 148 is pressed, the stem 230depresses the button actuator 228, thereby closing the electronic switch166 (FIG. 8), as described below.

With reference to FIG. 8, the front PCB 226 further comprises the lightindicators 162, which may illuminate when the front button 148 of thedevice 130 is pressed. In the illustrated embodiment, the lightindicators 162 comprise light-emitting diodes (LEDs 162) that aresurface mounted to the front surface of the front PCB 226 and arearranged in a circle around the button actuator 228. The presentembodiments are not limited to the light indicators 162 being LEDs, andin alternative embodiments the light indicators 162 may comprise anyother type of light-emitting device. The present embodiments are alsonot limited by the number of light indicators 162 shown in FIG. 8, norby the pattern in which they are arranged.

With reference to FIG. 7, the device 130 further comprises a light pipe232. The light pipe 232 is a transparent or translucent ring thatencircles the front button 148. With reference to FIG. 4, the light pipe232 resides in an annular space between the front button 148 and thecentral opening 206 in the shield 192, with a front surface 234 of thelight pipe 232 being substantially flush with the front surface 210 ofthe shield 192. With reference to FIGS. 7 and 10, a rear portion oflight pipe 232 includes a plurality of posts 236 whose positionscorrespond to the positions of the LEDs 162. When the LEDs 162 areilluminated, light is transmitted through the posts 236 and the body ofthe light pipe 232 so that the light is visible at the front surface 234of the light pipe 232. The LEDs 162 and the light pipe 232 thus providea ring of illumination around the front button 148. The light pipe 232may comprise a plastic, for example, or any other suitable materialcapable of transmitting light.

The LEDs 162 and the light pipe 232 may function as visual indicatorsfor a visitor and/or a user. For example, the LEDs 162 may illuminateupon activation or stay illuminated continuously. In one aspect, theLEDs 162 may change color to indicate that the front button 148 has beenpressed. The LEDs 162 may also indicate that the battery 142 needsrecharging, or that the battery 142 is currently being charged, or thatcharging of the battery 142 has been completed. The LEDs 162 mayindicate that a connection to the user's wireless (and/or wired) networkis good, limited, poor, or not connected. The LEDs 162 may be used toguide the user through setup or installation steps using visual cues,potentially coupled with audio cues emitted from the speaker 152.

With further reference to FIG. 7, the A/V recording and communicationdevice 130 further comprises a rechargeable battery 142. As described infurther detail below, the A/V recording and communication device 130 isconnected to an external power source 134 (FIG. 3), such as AC mains.The A/V recording and communication device 130 is primarily powered bythe external power source 134, but may also draw power from therechargeable battery 142 so as not to exceed a threshold amount of powerfrom the external power source 134, to thereby avoid inadvertentlysounding the signaling device 168. With reference to FIG. 3, the battery142 is operatively connected to the power manager 140. As describedbelow, the power manager 140 controls an amount of power drawn from thebattery 142 to supplement the power drawn from the external AC powersource 134 to power the A/V recording and communication device 130 whensupplemental power is needed. The power manager 140 also controlsrecharging of the battery 142 using power drawn from the external powersource 134. The battery 142 may comprise, for example, a lithium-ionbattery, or any other type of rechargeable battery.

With further reference to FIG. 7, the A/V recording and communicationdevice 130 further comprises the camera 154. The camera 154 is coupledto a front surface of the front PCB 226, and includes a lens 238 and animaging processor 240 (FIG. 9). The camera lens 238 may be a lenscapable of focusing light into the camera 154 so that clear images maybe captured. The camera 154 may comprise, for example, a high definition(HD) video camera, such as one capable of capturing video images at animage display resolution of 720 p or better. In certain of the presentembodiments, the camera 154 may be used to detect motion within itsfield of view, as described below.

With further reference to FIG. 7, the A/V recording and communicationdevice 130 further comprises an infrared (IR) light source 242. In theillustrated embodiment, the IR light source 242 comprises an IRlight-emitting diode (LED) 242 coupled to an IR LED printed circuitboard (PCB) 244. In alternative embodiments, the IR LED 242 may notcomprise a separate PCB 244, and may, for example, be coupled to thefront PCB 226.

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 10, the IR LED PCB 244 is located belowthe front button 148 (FIG. 7) and behind the lower portion 216 of theshield 192 (FIG. 10). As described above, the lower portion 216 of theshield 192 is transparent to IR light, but may be opaque with respect tolight in the visible spectrum. In alternative embodiments of the IR LEDPCB 244, the IR LED PCB 244 may include more than one IR LED 242. Forexample, the IR LED PCB 244 may include three IR LEDs 242, or any othernumber of IR LEDs 242. In embodiments including more than one IR LED242, the size of the third opening in the cover may be increased toaccommodate the larger size of the IR LED PCB 244.

The IR LED 242 may be triggered to activate when a low level of ambientlight is detected. When activated, IR light emitted from the IR LED 242illuminates the camera 154's field of view. The camera 154, which may beconfigured to detect IR light, may then capture the IR light emitted bythe IR LED 242 as it reflects off objects within the camera 154's fieldof view, so that the A/V recording and communication device 130 canclearly capture images at night (may be referred to as “night vision”).

With reference to FIG. 9, the A/V recording and communication device 130further comprises an IR cut filter 158. The IR cut filter 158 is amechanical shutter that can be selectively positioned between the lens238 and the image sensor of the camera 154. During daylight hours, orwhenever there is a sufficient amount of ambient light, the IR cutfilter 158 is positioned between the lens 238 and the image sensor tofilter out IR light so that it does not distort the colors of images asthe human eye sees them. During nighttime hours, or whenever there islittle to no ambient light, the IR cut filter 158 is withdrawn from thespace between the lens 238 and the image sensor, so that the camera 154is sensitive to IR light (“night vision”). In some embodiments, thecamera 154 acts as a light detector for use in controlling the currentstate of the IR cut filter 158 and turning the IR LED 242 on and off.Using the camera 154 as a light detector is facilitated in someembodiments by the fact that the A/V recording and communication device130 is powered by a connection to AC mains, and the camera 154,therefore, is always powered on. In other embodiments, however, the A/Vrecording and communication device 130 may include a light sensorseparate from the camera 154 for use in controlling the IR cut filter158 and the IR LED 242.

With reference back to FIG. 6, the A/V recording and communicationdevice 130 further comprises a reset button 170. The reset button 170contacts a reset button actuator 246 (FIG. 8) coupled to the front PCB226. When the reset button 170 is pressed, it may contact the resetbutton actuator 246, which may trigger the erasing of any data stored atthe non-volatile memory 174 and/or at the memory 172 (FIG. 3), and/ormay trigger a reboot of the processor 160. In some embodiments, thereset button 170 may also be used in a process to activate the A/Vrecording and communication device 130, as described below.

FIGS. 11-13 further illustrate internal components of the A/V recordingand communication device 130. FIGS. 11-13 are rear perspective views ofthe device 130 with the back plate 182 and additional componentsremoved. For example, in FIG. 11 the back plate 182 is removed, while inFIG. 12 the back plate 182 and the main PCB 224 are removed, and in FIG.13 the back plate 182, the main PCB 224, and the front PCB 226 areremoved. With reference to FIG. 11, several components are coupled tothe rear surface of the main PCB 224, including the communication module146, the processor 160, memory 172, and non-volatile memory 174. Thefunctions of each of these components are described below. Withreference to FIG. 12, several components are coupled to the rear surfaceof the front PCB 226, including the power manager 140, the powersequencer 144, the AC/DC rectifier 136, the DC/DC converter 138, and thecontroller 164 for the light indicators 162. The functions of each ofthese components are also described below. With reference to FIG. 13,several components are visible within the enclosure 180, including themicrophone 150, a speaker chamber 248 (in which the speaker 152 islocated), and an antenna 250 for the communication module 146. Thefunctions of each of these components are also described below.

With reference to FIG. 7, the antenna 250 is coupled to the frontsurface of the main PCB 224 and operatively connected to thecommunication module 146, which is coupled to the rear surface of themain PCB 224 (FIG. 11). The microphone 150, which may also be coupled tothe front surface of the main PCB 224, is located near the opening 218(FIG. 4) in the upper portion 214 of the shield 192 so that soundsemanating from the area around the A/V recording and communicationdevice 130 can pass through the opening 218 and be detected by themicrophone 150. With reference to FIG. 13, the speaker chamber 248 islocated near the bottom of the enclosure 180. The speaker chamber 248comprises a hollow enclosure in which the speaker 152 is located. Thehollow speaker chamber 248 amplifies the sounds made by the speaker 152so that they can be better heard by a visitor in the area near the A/Vrecording and communication device 130. With reference to FIGS. 5 and13, the lower surface 252 of the shell 184 and the lower surface (notshown) of the enclosure 180 may include an acoustical opening 254through which the sounds made by the speaker 152 can pass so that theycan be better heard by a visitor in the area near the A/V recording andcommunication device 130. In the illustrated embodiment, the acousticalopening 254 is shaped generally as a rectangle having a length extendingsubstantially across the lower surface 252 of the shell 184 (and alsothe enclosure 180). The illustrated shape is, however, just one example.With reference to FIG. 5, the lower surface 252 of the shell 184 mayfurther include an opening 256 for receiving a security screw (notshown). The security screw may extend through the opening 256 and into asimilarly located opening in the enclosure 180 to secure the shell 184to the enclosure 180. If the device 130 is mounted to a mounting bracket(not shown), the security screw may also maintain the device 130 on themounting bracket.

With reference to FIG. 13, the A/V recording and communication device130 may further include a battery heater 258. The present A/V recordingand communication device 130 is configured for outdoor use, including incold climates. Cold temperatures, however, can cause negativeperformance issues for rechargeable batteries, such as reduced energycapacity, increased internal resistance, reduced ability to chargewithout damage, and reduced ability to supply load current. The batteryheater 258 helps to keep the rechargeable battery 142 warm in order toreduce or eliminate the foregoing negative performance issues. In theillustrated embodiment, the battery heater 258 comprises a substantiallyflat, thin sheet abutting a side surface of the rechargeable battery142. The battery heater 258 may comprise, for example, an electricallyresistive heating element that produces heat when electrical current ispassed through it. The battery heater 258 may thus be operativelycoupled to the power manager 140 and/or the power sequencer 144 (FIG.12). In some embodiments, the rechargeable battery 142 may include athermally sensitive resistor (“thermistor,” not shown) operativelyconnected to the processor 160 so that the battery 142's temperature canbe monitored and the amount of power supplied to the battery heater 258can be adaptively controlled to keep the rechargeable battery 142 withina desired temperature range.

As discussed above, the present disclosure provides numerous examples ofmethods and systems including A/V recording and communication doorbells,but the present embodiments are equally applicable for A/V recording andcommunication devices other than doorbells. For example, the presentembodiments may include one or more A/V recording and communicationsecurity cameras instead of, or in addition to, one or more A/Vrecording and communication doorbells. An example A/V recording andcommunication security camera may include substantially all of thestructure and functionality of the device 130, but without the frontbutton 148, the button actuator 228, and/or the light pipe 232.

The present disclosure also provides numerous examples of methods andsystems including A/V recording and communication devices that arepowered by a connection to AC mains, but the present embodiments areequally applicable for A/V recording and communication devices that arebattery powered. For example, the present embodiments may include an A/Vrecording and communication device such as those described in US PatentApplication Publication Nos. 2015/0022620 (U.S. application Ser. No.14/499,828) and 2015/0022618 (U.S. application Ser. No. 14/334,922),both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entiretiesas if fully set forth.

As discussed above, parcel theft is an increasingly common problem.Parcel carriers frequently leave parcels near the front door of a homewhen no one answers the door at the time of delivery. These parcels arevulnerable to theft, as they are often clearly visible from the street.This problem has only gotten worse with the proliferation of onlinecommerce, and is particularly common around major holidays when manyconsumers do their holiday shopping online. It would be advantageous,therefore, if the functionality of A/V recording and communicationdevices could be leveraged to deter parcel theft and/or to identify andapprehend parcel thieves. It would also be advantageous if thefunctionality of A/V recording and communication devices could beenhanced in one or more ways to deter parcel theft and/or to identifyand apprehend parcel thieves. The present embodiments provide theseadvantages and enhancements, as described below.

For example, some of the present embodiments deter parcel theft and/orfacilitate the identification and apprehension of parcel thieves bydetermining that a parcel has been delivered, determining that theparcel has been removed from the delivery area, determining whetherremoval of the parcel was authorized, and, when the removal of theparcel is determined to have been unauthorized, generating an alert.Further, because the present embodiments include A/V recording andcommunication devices, acts of parcel theft are recorded by the cameraof the A/V recording and communication device. These images are usefulin identifying and apprehending parcel thieves.

Some of the present embodiments comprise computer vision for one or moreaspects, such as object recognition. Computer vision includes methodsfor acquiring, processing, analyzing, and understanding images and, ingeneral, high-dimensional data from the real world in order to producenumerical or symbolic information, e.g. in the form of decisions.Computer vision seeks to duplicate the abilities of human vision byelectronically perceiving and understanding an image. Understanding inthis context means the transformation of visual images (the input of theretina) into descriptions of the world that can interface with otherthought processes and elicit appropriate action. This imageunderstanding can be seen as the disentangling of symbolic informationfrom image data using models constructed with the aid of geometry,physics, statistics, and learning theory. Computer vision has also beendescribed as the enterprise of automating and integrating a wide rangeof processes and representations for vision perception. As a scientificdiscipline, computer vision is concerned with the theory behindartificial systems that extract information from images. The image datacan take many forms, such as video sequences, views from multiplecameras, or multi-dimensional data from a scanner. As a technologicaldiscipline, computer vision seeks to apply its theories and models forthe construction of computer vision systems.

One aspect of computer vision comprises determining whether or not theimage data contains some specific object, feature, or activity.Different varieties of computer vision recognition include: ObjectRecognition (also called object classification)—One or severalpre-specified or learned objects or object classes can be recognized,usually together with their 2D positions in the image or 3D poses in thescene. Identification—An individual instance of an object is recognized.Examples include identification of a specific person's face orfingerprint, identification of handwritten digits, or identification ofa specific vehicle. Detection—The image data are scanned for a specificcondition. Examples include detection of possible abnormal cells ortissues in medical images or detection of a vehicle in an automatic roadtoll system. Detection based on relatively simple and fast computationsis sometimes used for finding smaller regions of interesting image datathat can be further analyzed by more computationally demandingtechniques to produce a correct interpretation.

Several specialized tasks based on computer vision recognition exist,such as: Optical Character Recognition (OCR)—Identifying characters inimages of printed or handwritten text, usually with a view to encodingthe text in a format more amenable to editing or indexing (e.g. ASCII).2D Code Reading—Reading of 2D codes such as data matrix and QR codes.Facial Recognition. Shape Recognition Technology (SRT)—Differentiatinghuman beings (e.g. head and shoulder patterns) from objects.

Typical functions and components (e.g. hardware) found in many computervision systems are described in the following paragraphs. The presentembodiments may include at least some of these aspects. For example,with reference to FIG. 3, embodiments of the present A/V recording andcommunication device 130 may include a computer vision module 163. Thecomputer vision module 163 may include any of the components (e.g.hardware) and/or functionality described herein with respect to computervision, including, without limitation, one or more cameras, sensors,and/or processors. In some embodiments, the microphone 150, the camera154, and/or the imaging processor 240 may be components of the computervision module 163.

Image acquisition—A digital image is produced by one or several imagesensors, which, besides various types of light-sensitive cameras, mayinclude range sensors, tomography devices, radar, ultra-sonic cameras,etc. Depending on the type of sensor, the resulting image data may be a2D image, a 3D volume, or an image sequence. The pixel values maycorrespond to light intensity in one or several spectral bands (grayimages or color images), but can also be related to various physicalmeasures, such as depth, absorption or reflectance of sonic orelectromagnetic waves, or nuclear magnetic resonance.

Pre-processing—Before a computer vision method can be applied to imagedata in order to extract some specific piece of information, it isusually beneficial to process the data in order to assure that itsatisfies certain assumptions implied by the method. Examples ofpre-processing include, but are not limited to re-sampling in order toassure that the image coordinate system is correct, noise reduction inorder to assure that sensor noise does not introduce false information,contrast enhancement to assure that relevant information can bedetected, and scale space representation to enhance image structures atlocally appropriate scales.

Feature extraction—Image features at various levels of complexity areextracted from the image data. Typical examples of such features are:Lines, edges, and ridges; Localized interest points such as corners,blobs, or points; More complex features may be related to texture,shape, or motion.

Detection/segmentation—At some point in the processing a decision may bemade about which image points or regions of the image are relevant forfurther processing. Examples are: Selection of a specific set ofinterest points; Segmentation of one or multiple image regions thatcontain a specific object of interest; Segmentation of the image intonested scene architecture comprising foreground, object groups, singleobjects, or salient object parts (also referred to as spatial-taxonscene hierarchy).

High-level processing—At this step, the input may be a small set ofdata, for example a set of points or an image region that is assumed tocontain a specific object. The remaining processing may comprise, forexample: Verification that the data satisfy model-based andapplication-specific assumptions; Estimation of application-specificparameters, such as object pose or object size; Imagerecognition—classifying a detected object into different categories;Image registration—comparing and combining two different views of thesame obj ect.

Decision making—Making the final decision required for the application,for example match/no-match in recognition applications.

One or more of the present embodiments may include a vision processingunit (not shown separately, but may be a component of the computervision module 163). A vision processing unit is an emerging class ofmicroprocessor; it is a specific type of AI (artificial intelligence)accelerator designed to accelerate machine vision tasks. Visionprocessing units are distinct from video processing units (which arespecialized for video encoding and decoding) in their suitability forrunning machine vision algorithms such as convolutional neural networks,SIFT, etc. Vision processing units may include direct interfaces to takedata from cameras (bypassing any off-chip buffers), and may have agreater emphasis on on-chip dataflow between many parallel executionunits with scratchpad memory, like a manycore DSP (digital signalprocessor). But, like video processing units, vision processing unitsmay have a focus on low precision fixed point arithmetic for imageprocessing.

As described above, one aspect of the present embodiments includes therealization that parcel pilferage is a pernicious and persistentproblem. Parcel carriers frequently leave parcels near the front door ofa home when no one answers the door at the time of delivery. Theseparcels are vulnerable to theft, as they are often clearly visible fromthe street. This problem has only gotten worse with the proliferation ofonline commerce, and is particularly common around major holidays whenmany consumers do their holiday shopping online. It would beadvantageous, therefore, if the functionality of A/V recording andcommunication devices could be leveraged to deter parcel theft and/or toidentify and apprehend parcel thieves. It would also be advantageous ifthe functionality of A/V recording and communication devices could beenhanced in one or more ways to deter parcel theft and/or to identifyand apprehend parcel thieves. The present embodiments provide theseadvantages and enhancements, as described below.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example embodiment of a process for deterringparcel theft with an A/V recording and communication device according tovarious aspects of the present disclosure. At block B300, the processdetermines that a parcel has been left within an area about an A/Vrecording and communication device, such as the A/V recording andcommunication device 130 described above. The present embodimentsencompass any method of determining that a parcel has been left withinan area about an A/V recording and communication device, and severalexamples are provided below. The present embodiments are not, however,limited to these examples, which are provided for illustration only. Anyof the examples described below, as well as any of the presentembodiments, may include one or more aspects of computer vision.

In one example embodiment, determining that the parcel has been leftwithin the area about the A/V recording and communication device 130 maycomprise comparing video frames recorded by the camera 154 of the A/Vrecording and communication device 130, e.g. using computer vision. Forexample, before a parcel is left within the area about the A/V recordingand communication device 130, the field of view of the camera 154 mayremain largely static. Different objects may occasionally (orfrequently) pass through the camera's field of view, such as people,animals, cars, etc., but these objects generally do not remain withinthe camera's field of view for very long (on the order of seconds) and,if they stop within the camera's field of view, they typically beginmoving again soon after stopping. By contrast, when a parcel is leftwithin the camera's field of view, it typically remains within thecamera's field of view for a significant amount of time (on the order ofminutes or hours), and the parcel typically remains motionlessthroughout the time that it remains within the camera's field of view(at least until someone picks it up and carries it away). Thus,comparing video frames from a time before a parcel is left within thecamera's field of view with video frames from a time after the parcel isleft within the camera's field of view may enable a reliabledetermination to be made as to whether an object that is present withinthe camera's field of view is a parcel or not.

The present embodiments contemplate numerous methodologies fordetermining whether an object that is present within the camera's fieldof view is a parcel or not. Any or all of these methodologies mayinclude one or more aspects of computer vision. For example, in someembodiments an object within the camera's field of view may bedetermined to be a parcel if the object is not present within thecamera's field of view at a first time (in a first video frame), theobject is present within the camera's field of view at a second timeafter the first time (in a second video frame), and the object remainswithin the camera's field of view for at least a threshold amount oftime. Determining whether the object remains within the camera's fieldof view for at least the threshold amount of time may comprise review ofone or more video frames that are recorded after the second video frame.In other embodiments, an object within the camera's field of view may bedetermined to be a parcel if the object is not present within thecamera's field of view at a first time (in a first video frame), theobject is present within the camera's field of view at a second timeafter the first time (in a second video frame), and the object remainsmotionless within the camera's field of view for at least a thresholdamount of time. Determining whether the object remains motionless withinthe camera's field of view for at least the threshold amount of time maycomprise review of one or more video frames that are recorded after thesecond video frame.

In other embodiments, an object within the camera's field of view may bedetermined to be a parcel if the object is not present within thecamera's field of view at a first time (in a first video frame), aperson is detected approaching the A/V recording and communicationdevice 130 at a second time after the first time (in a second videoframe), the person is detected moving away from the A/V recording andcommunication device 130 at a third time after the second time (in athird video frame), and the object is present within the camera's fieldof view at a fourth time after the third time (in a fourth video frame).

In other embodiments, an object within the camera's field of view may bedetermined to be a parcel if the object is not present within thecamera's field of view at a first time (in a first video frame), astationary vehicle (which may be a delivery vehicle, for example) isdetected within the camera's field of view at a second time after thefirst time (in a second video frame), the object is present within thecamera's field of view at a third time after the second time (in a thirdvideo frame), and the vehicle is no longer present within the camera'sfield of view at a fourth time after the third time (in a fourth videoframe).

In other embodiments, an object within the camera's field of view may bedetermined to be a parcel if the object is not present within thecamera's field of view at a first time (in a first video frame), theobject is present within the camera's field of view at a second timeafter the first time (in a second video frame), and the object meets oneor more criteria, such as having one or more physical characteristics.Examples of physical characteristics that may be examined to determinewhether the object is a parcel include, without limitation, size, shape,color, and material (or materials). For example, if the object is madeof cardboard and is brown or white (common colors for cardboard shippingboxes), it may be determined to be a parcel.

The present embodiments contemplate many processes for examiningphysical characteristics of the object and making a determination as towhether the object is a parcel. For example, some embodiments maycomprise gathering information about the object using computer vision,and then comparing the gathered information about the object to storedinformation about parcels to determine whether there is a match. Forexample, the present embodiments may include a database of parcelsand/or physical characteristics of parcels. The database may includepictures of known parcels, and comparing the gathered information aboutthe object to the stored information about parcels may comprisecomparing a picture of the object to the pictures of known parcels.Gathering information about the object using computer vision maycomprise using one or more cameras, scanners, imagers, etc. and/or oneor more sensors, such as sonar.

With reference to FIG. 15, information received by the computer visionmodule 163 of the A/V recording and communication device 130 may be sentto one or more network devices, such as the server 118 and/or thebackend API 120, in a computer vision query signal 310. The one or morenetwork devices may then analyze the sent information and/or compare thesent information with other information in one or more databases todetermine whether there is a match, for example in order to identify theparcel. In one example embodiment, comparing the sent information aboutthe parcel with other information in one or more databases to determinewhether there is a match may comprise comparing the sent information,such as one or more photos or images, about the parcel with photosand/or images of known parcels. If there is a match, then one or moreactions may occur, such as the A/V recording and communication device130 transitioning to a different operational mode. For example, thenetwork device, such as the server 118 and/or the backend API 120, maysend a computer vision response signal 312 to the A/V recording andcommunication device 130. The computer vision response signal 312 mayinclude a command to the A/V recording and communication device 130 tochange the operational mode of the A/V recording and communicationdevice 130. For example, the command to the A/V recording andcommunication device 130 may cause the A/V recording and communicationdevice 130 to transition to an “armed” mode in which the A/V recordingand communication device 130 is configured to take one or more actionswhen the parcel is removed from the area about the A/V recording andcommunication device 130, as described below.

In another example embodiment, determining that the parcel has been leftwithin the area about the A/V recording and communication device 130 maycomprise receiving information from a carrier (e.g. the postal service,FedEx, UPS, etc.) that delivered the parcel. For example, when theparcel carrier delivers the parcel, or at some time after the parcelcarrier has delivered the parcel, the carrier may update a deliverystatus of the parcel in the carrier's parcel tracking system to indicatethat the parcel has been delivered. The carrier's parcel tracking systemmay then forward that information to one or more network devices, suchas the server 118 and/or the backend API 120, which may then forward theinformation to the A/V recording and communication device 130.

In another example embodiment, determining that the parcel has been leftwithin the area about the A/V recording and communication device 130 maycomprise automatic identification and data capture (AIDC). For example,the parcel may include at least one of a barcode 320 (FIG. 16), a matrixcode 322 (FIG. 17), a bokode 324 (FIG. 18), and a radio frequencyidentification (RFID) tag 326 (FIG. 19). AIDC refers to methods ofautomatically identifying objects, collecting data about them, andentering that data directly into computer systems (e.g. without humaninvolvement). Technologies typically considered part of AIDC includebarcodes, matrix codes, bokodes, RFID, biometrics (e.g. irisrecognition, facial recognition, voice recognition, etc.), magneticstripes, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), and smart cards. AIDC isalso commonly referred to as “Automatic Identification,” “Auto-ID,” and“Automatic Data Capture.”

AIDC encompasses obtaining external data, particularly through analysisof images and/or sounds. To capture data, a transducer may convert animage or a sound into a digital file. The file is then typically storedand analyzed by a computer, and/or compared with other files in adatabase, to verify identity and/or to provide authorization to enter asecured system. AIDC also refers to methods of recognizing objects,getting information about them, and entering that data or feeding itdirectly into computer systems without any human involvement. Inbiometric security systems, capture may refer to the acquisition ofand/or the process of acquiring and identifying characteristics, such asfinger images, palm images, facial images, or iris prints, which all mayinvolve video data, or voice prints, which may involve audio data.

A barcode, such as the example barcode 320 shown in FIG. 16, is anoptical machine-readable representation of data relating to the objectto which it is attached. Barcodes systematically represent data byvarying the widths and spacings of parallel lines, and may be referredto as linear or one-dimensional (1D) barcodes.

A matrix code, such as the example matrix code 322 shown in FIG. 17, isa two-dimensional matrix barcode consisting of black and white “cells”or modules arranged in either a square or rectangular pattern. Theinformation encoded can be text and/or numeric data. Quick response (QR)codes and Data Matrix codes are specific types of matrix codes.

A bokode, such as the example bokode 324 shown in FIG. 18, is a type ofdata tag that holds much more information than a barcode over the samearea. The bokode pattern is a tiled series of matrix codes. Bokodes maybe circular, and may include an LED covered with a mask and a lens.

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) uses electromagnetic fields toautomatically identify and track tags attached to objects. The tags,such as the example RFID tag 326 shown in FIG. 19, containelectronically stored information, and may be passive or active. Passivetags collect energy from a nearby RFID reader's interrogating radiowaves. Active tags have a local power source, such as a battery, and mayoperate at hundreds of meters from the RFID reader. Unlike a barcode,the tag need not be within the line of sight of the reader, so it may beembedded in the tracked object.

The A/V recording and communication device 130 may capture informationembedded in one of these types (or any other type) of AIDC technologies.For example, with reference to FIG. 3, the A/V recording andcommunication device 130 may include an AIDC module 165 operativelyconnected to the processor 160. The AIDC module 165 may include hardwareand/or software configured for one or more types of AIDC, including, butnot limited to, any of the types of AIDC described herein. For example,the AIDC module 165 may include an RFID reader (not shown), and thecamera 154 of the A/V recording and communication device 130 may in someembodiments be considered to be part of the AIDC module 165. Forexample, with respect to barcodes, matrix codes, and bokodes (or anyother type code), the camera 154 of the A/V recording and communicationdevice 130 may scan the code, and any information embedded therein. Tofacilitate scanning the code, the parcel carrier may hold the parcel upto the camera 154. With respect to RFID, the RFID reader of the AIDCmodule 165 may interrogate an RFID tag 326 on, or embedded in, theparcel. In some embodiments, the processor 160 of the A/V recording andcommunication device 130 may be considered to be part of the AIDC module165 and/or the processor 160 may operate in conjunction with the AIDCmodule 165 in various AIDC processes.

AIDC and computer vision have significant overlap, and use of either oneof these terms herein should be construed as also encompassing thesubject matter of the other one of these terms. For example, thecomputer vision module 163 and the AIDC module 165 may compriseoverlapping hardware components and/or functionality. In someembodiments, the computer vision module 163 and the AIDC module 165 maybe combined into a single module.

With reference to FIG. 20, information received by the AIDC module 165of the A/V recording and communication device 130 from one or more codesor tags may be sent to one or more network devices, such as the server118 and/or the backend API 120, in an AIDC query signal 330. The one ormore network devices may then analyze the sent information and/orcompare the sent information with other information in one or more codesdatabases to determine whether there is a match, for example in order toidentify the parcel. If there is a match, then one or more actions mayoccur, such as the A/V recording and communication device 130transitioning to a different operational mode. For example, the networkdevice, such as the server 118 and/or the backend API 120, may send anAIDC response signal 332 to the A/V recording and communication device130. The AIDC response signal 332 may include a command to the A/Vrecording and communication device 130 to change the operational mode ofthe A/V recording and communication device 130. For example, the commandto the A/V recording and communication device 130 may cause the A/Vrecording and communication device 130 to transition to an “armed” modein which the A/V recording and communication device 130 is configured totake one or more actions when the parcel is removed from the area aboutthe A/V recording and communication device 130, as described below.

With further reference to FIG. 14, at block B302 the process determinesthat the parcel has been removed from the area about the A/V recordingand communication device 130. The present embodiments encompass anymethod of determining that a parcel has been removed from the area aboutan A/V recording and communication device, and several examples areprovided below. The present embodiments are not, however, limited tothese examples, which are provided for illustration only. Any of theexamples described below, as well as any of the present embodiments, mayinclude one or more aspects of computer vision.

In one example embodiment, determining that the parcel has been removedfrom the area about the A/V recording and communication device 130 maycomprise comparing video frames recorded by the camera 154 of the A/Vrecording and communication device 130. For example, after a parcel hasbeen determined to have been left within the area about the A/Vrecording and communication device 130, the parcel is likely to remainmotionless in the position where it was left. Thus, if the parcel ispresent within the camera's field of view at a first time (in a firstvideo frame), and is no longer present within the camera's field of viewat a second time after the first time (in a second video frame), thenthe parcel may be determined to have been removed from the area aboutthe A/V recording and communication device 130.

In another example embodiment, determining that the parcel has beenremoved from the area about the A/V recording and communication device130 may comprise AIDC. For example, if the parcel includes an RFID tag,then an RFID reader of the AIDC module 165 may detect that the RFID tagno longer responds to interrogation signals. In some embodiments, if theRFID reader sends a threshold number of interrogation signals andreceives no response from the RFID tag of the parcel, the process maydetermine that the parcel has been removed from the area about the A/Vrecording and communication device 130. In some embodiments, thethreshold number of interrogation signals with no response may be oneinterrogation signal, or two interrogation signals, or threeinterrogation signals, or any other number of interrogation signals.

With further reference to FIG. 14, at block B304 the process determineswhether removal of the parcel from the area about the A/V recording andcommunication device 130 was authorized. The present embodimentsencompass any method of determining whether removal of the parcel fromthe area about the A/V recording and communication device 130 wasauthorized, and several examples are provided below. The presentembodiments are not, however, limited to these examples, which areprovided for illustration only. Any of the examples described below, aswell as any of the present embodiments, may include one or more aspectsof computer vision.

In one example embodiment, determining whether removal of the parcelfrom the area about the A/V recording and communication device 130 wasauthorized may comprise detecting (or tracking) a direction of movementof the parcel. For example, when a parcel is left outside the frontentrance of a home, the homeowner (or other occupant) will typicallypick up the parcel and bring it inside the home. A parcel thief, bycontrast, will typically pick up the parcel and carry it away from thehome. Thus, if the A/V recording and communication device 130 detectsthat the parcel is moving toward a structure to which the A/V recordingand communication device 130 is secured (or with which the A/V recordingand communication device 130 is associated), then the process maydetermine that the removal of the parcel from the area about the A/Vrecording and communication device 130 is authorized. But, if the A/Vrecording and communication device 130 detects that the parcel is movingaway from the structure to which the A/V recording and communicationdevice 130 is secured (or with which the A/V recording and communicationdevice 130 is associated), then the process may determine that theremoval of the parcel from the area about the A/V recording andcommunication device 130 is unauthorized.

In another example embodiment, determining whether removal of the parcelfrom the area about the A/V recording and communication device 130 wasauthorized may comprise AIDC and/or computer vision. For example, if anauthorized person (e.g. the addressee of the parcel) removes the parcelfrom the area about the A/V recording and communication device 130, theA/V recording and communication device 130 may receive information fromthe authorized person. For example, the authorized person may presentidentification or credentials to the A/V recording and communicationdevice 130. The camera 154 and/or the AIDC module 165 and/or theprocessor 160 of the A/V recording and communication device 130 mayreceive information from the identification or credentials for use indetermining that the person removing the parcel from the area about theA/V recording and communication device 130 is an authorized person. Ifno identification or credentials are presented when the parcel isremoved from the area about the A/V recording and communication device130, or if identification or credentials are presented but they do notmatch an expected identification or credentials, then the process maydetermine that the person removing the parcel from the area about theA/V recording and communication device 130 is not an authorized person.In some embodiments, the A/V recording and communication device 130 mayprovide a prompt, such as a voice prompt emitted through the speaker,requesting identification or credentials when a person is detectedwithin the area about the A/V recording and communication device 130and/or when the A/V recording and communication device 130 detects thatthe parcel has been moved or picked up.

Examples of identification or credentials that could be used in theforegoing processes include, without limitation, a card (or othercarrier or substrate) bearing a barcode 320, or a matrix code 322, or abokode 324, or an RFID tag 326, or an embedded integrated circuit (suchas in a smart card, a chip card, or an integrated circuit card (ICC)),or a magnetic stripe. FIG. 21 illustrates an example of a smart card 340including an embedded integrated circuit 342, and FIG. 22 illustrates anexample of a card 344 including a magnetic stripe 346.

A smart card, chip card, or integrated circuit card (ICC), such as theexample smart card 340 shown in FIG. 21, is any pocket-sized card thathas one or more embedded integrated circuits. Smart cards may be eithercontact or contactless. Contact smart cards include a contact areacomprising contact pads. These pads provide electrical connectivity wheninserted into a reader, which serves as a communication medium betweenthe smart card and a host (e.g., a computer, or a point of saleterminal). Contact smart cards do not contain batteries. Instead, poweris supplied by the card reader. With contactless smart cards, the cardcommunicates with and is powered by the reader through RF inductiontechnology. These cards require only proximity to an antenna tocommunicate. Like contact smart cards with, contactless cards do nothave an internal power source. Instead, they use an inductor to capturesome of the incident radio-frequency interrogation signal, rectify it,and use it to power the card's electronics.

A magnetic stripe card, such as the example card 344 shown in FIG. 22,is a type of card capable of storing data by modifying the magnetism oftiny iron-based magnetic particles on a band of magnetic material on thecard. The magnetic stripe, sometimes called a magstripe, is read byswiping past a magnetic reading head.

Further examples of identification or credentials that could be used inthe foregoing processes include, without limitation, a card (or othercarrier or substrate) bearing text that can be received as input by theAIDC module 165 and/or the camera 154 and/or the processor 160 throughoptical character recognition (OCR). OCR is the mechanical or electronicconversion of images of typed, handwritten, or printed text intomachine-encoded text.

Further examples of AIDC and/or computer vision that can be used in thepresent embodiments to verify the identity and/or authorization of aperson include, without limitation, biometrics. Biometrics refers tometrics related to human characteristics. Biometrics authentication (orrealistic authentication) is used in various forms of identification andaccess control. Biometric identifiers are the distinctive, measurablecharacteristics used to label and describe individuals. Biometricidentifiers can be physiological characteristics and/or behavioralcharacteristics. Physiological characteristics may be related to theshape of the body. Examples include, but are not limited to,fingerprints, palm veins, facial recognition, three-dimensional facialrecognition, skin texture analysis, DNA, palm prints, hand geometry,iris recognition, retina recognition, and odor/scent recognition.Behavioral characteristics may be related to the pattern of behavior ofa person, including, but not limited to, typing rhythm, gait, and voicerecognition.

The present embodiments may use any one, or any combination of more thanone, of the foregoing biometrics to identify and/or authenticate aperson who removes the parcel from the area about the A/V recording andcommunication device 130. For example, the computer vision module 163,the AIDC module 165, and/or the camera 154 and/or the processor 160 mayreceive information about the person using any one, or any combinationof more than one, of the foregoing biometrics.

Another aspect of determining whether removal of the parcel from thearea about the A/V recording and communication device 130 was authorizedmay comprise comparing information received through the AIDC (and/orcomputer vision) to information about one or more persons. Withreference to FIG. 20, information received by the AIDC module 165(and/or the computer vision module 163) and/or the camera 154 and/or theprocessor 160 of the A/V recording and communication device 130 may besent to one or more network devices, such as the server 118 and/or thebackend API 120, in an AIDC query signal 330. The one or more networkdevices may then compare information in the AIDC query signal 330 aboutthe person detected in the area about the A/V recording andcommunication device 130 with information from one or more sources.These information sources may include one or more databases and/orservices. For example, a database and/or service may include a smartlist of authorized persons. If a person who removed the parcel is on thesmart list of authorized persons, then the removal of the parcel fromthe area about the A/V recording and communication device 130 may bedetermined to be authorized.

In some embodiments, the information in the AIDC query signal 330 may becompared with information about one or more persons who are authorizedto remove parcels from the area about the A/V recording andcommunication device 130. For example, biometric information (or otherAIDC/computer vision information) about one or more authorized personsmay be uploaded and stored at one or more databases and/or servicesaccessible to the one or more network devices, such as the server 118and/or the backend API 120. Comparison(s) between this information andthe information in the AIDC query signal 330 may determine whether aperson detected in the area about the A/V recording and communicationdevice 130 is an authorized person or not. The comparison(s) may beperformed by one or more network devices, such as the server 118 and/orthe backend API 120, for example.

In other embodiments, the information in the AIDC query signal 330 maybe compared with information about one or more persons who have beenreported in connection with one or more crimes and/or suspicious events.In some embodiments, the crime(s) and/or suspicious event(s) may haveoccurred within a defined radius of the A/V recording and communicationdevice 130. For example, a first user of an A/V recording andcommunication device may view video footage that was recorded by his orher device and determine that the person or persons in the video footageare, or may be, engaged in suspicious activity and/or criminal activity.The first user may then share that video footage with one or more otherpeople, such as other users of A/V recording and communication devices,and/or one or more organizations, including one or more law enforcementagencies. The present embodiments may leverage this shared video footagefor use in comparing with the information in the AIDC query signal 330to determine whether a person detected in the area about the A/Vrecording and communication device 130 is the same person that was thesubject of (and/or depicted in) the shared video footage. If a persondetected in the area about the A/V recording and communication device130 is the same person that was reported in connection with one or morecrimes and/or suspicious events, then that person is probably not aperson who is authorized to remove parcels from the area about the A/Vrecording and communication device 130. In some embodiments, the person(or persons) depicted in the shared video footage may be aperpetrator(s) of one or more parcel thefts. Further, those parcelthefts may have occurred within a defined radius about the A/V recordingand communication device 130. Further description of sharing videofootage from A/V recording and communication devices is provided in U.S.patent application Ser. Nos. 15/387,471 (filed on Dec. 12, 2016 andentitled “SHARING VIDEO FOOTAGE FROM AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDING ANDCOMMUNICATION DEVICES”) and 15/387,444 (filed on Dec. 12, 2016 andentitled “SHARING VIDEO FOOTAGE FROM AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDING ANDCOMMUNICATION DEVICES”), both of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entireties as if fully set forth.

In another example embodiment, AIDC and/or computer vision may comprisethe camera 154 of the A/V recording and communication device 130capturing an image of a person in the area about the A/V recording andcommunication device 130. The image of the person may comprise an imageof the person's face. The image of the person's face may be comparedwith image(s) of the face(s) of at least one other person. In someembodiments, the at least one other person may be a person or personswho were reported in connection with suspicious activity and/or criminalactivity, such as parcel theft. The comparison(s) may be performed byone or more network devices, such as the server 118 and/or the backendAPI 120. If a match is found between the image of the person's facecaptured by the camera 154 of the A/V recording and communication device130 and the at least one image of the face(s) of at least one otherperson, then the process may determine that removal of the parcel fromthe area about the A/V recording and communication device 130 wasunauthorized. The process may then generate an alert, which may compriseany or all of the alert types described herein.

With further reference to FIG. 20, the network device, such as theserver 118 and/or the backend API 120, may send an AIDC response signal332 to the A/V recording and communication device 130. In someembodiments, the AIDC response signal 332 may be sent after a comparisonhas been made between the information in the AIDC query signal 330 andthe information about one or more persons who are authorized to removeparcels from the area about A/V recording and communication device 130and/or the information about one or more persons who have been reportedin connection with one or more crimes and/or suspicious events. The AIDCresponse signal 332 may comprise an indicator (and/or information) aboutwhether a person detected in the area about the A/V recording andcommunication device 130 is authorized to remove parcels from that areaor not.

With further reference to FIG. 14, at block B306, when the removal ofthe parcel from the area about the A/V recording and communicationdevice 130 is determined to have been unauthorized, the process maygenerate an alert. In some embodiments, the alert may comprise an alertsignal sent to a client device. For example, the alert may be similarto, or the same as, the process described above with respect to blockB268 of FIG. 2, in which audio and/or video data is transmitted(streamed) from the A/V recording and communication device 130 to theuser's client device 114 via the user's network 110 and the network 112.The streaming video may include images of the person(s) who was/weredetermined to have been unauthorized. The user can then determinewhether to take further action, such as alerting law enforcement and/orsharing the video footage with other people, such as via social media.

In some embodiments, the alert may comprise an audible alarm emittedfrom the speaker 152 of the A/V recording and communication device 130.The audible alarm may be any loud noise likely to attract attentionand/or startle the unauthorized person, making it more likely that he orshe will flee without absconding with the parcel(s). In someembodiments, the alert may comprise an announcement emitted from thespeaker 152 of the A/V recording and communication device 130. Theannouncement may comprise a verbal warning that the area about the A/Vrecording and communication device 130 is being recorded. Theunauthorized person, upon being informed that the area about the A/Vrecording and communication device 130 is being recorded, may decide toflee the scene without absconding with the parcel(s). In someembodiments, the alert may comprise both an audible alarm and anannouncement in combination. Also in some embodiments, the alert maycomprise any combination of an alert signal sent to a client device, anaudible alarm emitted from the speaker 152 of the A/V recording andcommunication device 130, and an announcement emitted from the speaker152 of the A/V recording and communication device 130.

Some of the present embodiments may comprise identifying a parcel withinthe area about the A/V recording and communication device 130. In someembodiments, identifying the parcel may comprise the camera 154 of theA/V recording and communication device 130 capturing an image of anidentifying mark on the parcel. In various embodiments, the identifyingmark may be, for example, a company logo or other identifying symbol.The identifying mark on the parcel may be compared with a plurality ofidentifying marks in a database. If a match is found, the parcel may beidentified as originating with the sender associated with the matchingidentifying mark. In other embodiments, the identifying mark may be, forexample, a barcode, a matrix code, a bokode, etc. In some embodiments,RFID (or other similar technology) may be used to identify a parcel.

FIG. 23 illustrates an example embodiment of a process for deterringparcel theft with an A/V recording and communication device according tovarious aspects of the present disclosure. At block B350, the processmay determine that a parcel has been left within an area about an A/Vrecording and communication device, such as the A/V recording andcommunication device 130 described above. The present embodimentsencompass any method of determining that a parcel has been left withinan area about an A/V recording and communication device, including anyof the examples described above. The present embodiments are not,however, limited to these examples, which are provided for illustrationonly.

With further reference to FIG. 23, at block B352, after the parcel hasbeen left within the area about the A/V recording and communicationdevice 130, the process may detect a person within the area about theA/V recording and communication device 130. The detection of the personwithin the area about the A/V recording and communication device 130 maybe according to any of the processes described herein, such as, forexample, comparing video frames recorded by the camera 154 of the A/Vrecording and communication device 130.

With further reference to FIG. 23, at block B354 the process may record,with the camera 154 of the A/V recording and communication device 130,video images of the person within the area about the A/V recording andcommunication device 130. At block B356, the process may emit an alertfrom the speaker 152 of the A/V recording and communication device 130.The alert may comprise an audible alarm and/or an announcement, similarto the example embodiments described above.

In some of the present embodiments, the processes described above,including the processes described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 23, maybe performed automatically when a parcel is detected within the areaabout the A/V recording and communication device 130. In otherembodiments, processes similar to those described above may only beperformed in response to a user command. For example, one aspect of thepresent embodiments may provide an option to a user for enabling and/ordisabling a parcel protection feature or mode. An option toenable/disable the parcel protection mode may be presented to the user,for example, through a graphical user interface (GUI) of an applicationexecuting on the user's client device 114. The GUI may also provideother options (e.g., receiving motion alerts, etc.), in addition to theparcel protection mode, for the user to select or unselect (e.g., toenable or disable).

In one example embodiment, the user may manually enable parcelprotection mode in response to a notification that a parcel has beendelivered. For example, with reference to FIG. 24, at block B360 theuser may receive a notification that a parcel has been delivered (e.g.,left within the field of view of the camera 154). The notification maybe received in several different ways. For example, the parcel carriermay press the front button 148 of the A/V recording and communicationdevice 130, thereby initiating a call to the user's client device 114.The user may answer the call and speak to the parcel carrier, who mayinform the user that his or her parcel has been delivered and left inthe area about the A/V recording and communication device 130. Inanother example, the call to the user's client device 114 may beinitiated automatically by the A/V recording and communication device130 in response to detecting the presence of the parcel carrier, such asby using the camera 154 for motion detection and/or a separate motionsensor. The user may then view live streaming video of the parceldelivery event (or subsequently view recorded video of the parceldelivery event) and thereby be informed of the parcel delivery withoutactually speaking to the parcel carrier. In yet another example, the A/Vrecording and communication device 130 may detect the delivery of theparcel, for example using any of the techniques described herein, andmay then send a notification to the user's client device 114, forexample in the form of an alert (e.g., a push notification).

Regardless of the form of notification, and with further reference toFIG. 24, at block B362 the user may manually enable parcel protectionmode, such as, for example, using an application executing on the user'sclient device 114, as described above. In some embodiments, the optionto enable parcel protection mode may be presented to the user inconjunction with the notification sent to the user's client device 114,for example in the form of an alert (e.g., a push notification). If theuser enables parcel protection mode, then at block B364 the process ofFIG. 24 advances to block B302 of FIG. 14 and/or block B352 of FIG. 23.In some embodiments, however, if the user declines to enable parcelprotection mode, then parcel protection mode may remain inactive, andthe operations shown in blocks B302-B306 of FIG. 14 and blocks B362-B366of FIG. 23 would not be performed.

As described above, a user may disable the parcel protection modemanually in the same manner that the user enables this feature/mode(e.g., through a GUI of an application that is associated with the A/Vrecording and communication device). Some of the present embodiments mayalso disable the parcel protection mode automatically (e.g., without auser's intervention). Some such embodiments may disable the parcelprotection mode when a parcel is removed from an area about an A/Vrecording and communication device by an authorized person (e.g., thehomeowner, a friend or family member of the homeowner, or any otherperson authorized by the homeowner). Different embodiments may realizethat a parcel is removed (e.g., from the field of view of a camera of anA/V recording and communication device) by an authorized person throughdifferent methods. Some aspects of the present embodiments may verify aperson as an authorized person by authenticating the person'sbiometrics. As an example, one aspect of the present embodimentsidentifies the person's face (e.g., by performing a face recognitionprocess, as described above) and compares the identification data withone or more databases that contain authorized persons' identificationdata.

Some of the present embodiments may disable a parcel protection modewhen these embodiments determine that an authorized user is at, orwithin a threshold vicinity of, the location of the parcel. Someembodiments make such a determination by comparing a current location ofthe authorized user (e.g., by locating a client device that the usercarries) and the location of the parcel. Some other embodiments maydetermine that a parcel is picked up by an authorized person when theparcel moves in a specific direction (e.g., toward the house instead ofaway from the house). Some of the present embodiments may realize thatthe parcel is being moved toward the house, e.g., by comparing asequence of video images of the moving parcel captured by a camera ofthe A/V recording and communication device. Some other embodiments mayuse an AIDC module (e.g., an RFID reader) of the A/V recording andcommunication device to determine the direction of movement of a parcel(e.g., when the parcel includes a barcode, a matrix code, an RFID tag,etc.).

In any of the present embodiments, various aspects of methods may beperformed locally, e.g. by one or more components of the A/V recordingand communication device 130, and/or remotely, e.g. by one or morenetwork devices, such as the server 118 and/or the backend API 120, forexample. For example, the processor 160 of the A/V recording andcommunication device 130 may perform various aspects such as, but notlimited to, comparing video frames recorded by the camera 154 of the A/Vrecording and communication device 130 to determine whether a parcel hasbeen left within the area about the A/V recording and communicationdevice 130 and/or that the parcel has been removed from the area aboutthe A/V recording and communication device 130.

Many of the present embodiments have been described with reference topersons detected by, or present in the area about, the A/V recording andcommunication device 130. The present embodiments are not limited,however, to scenarios involving humans. For example, the presentembodiments contemplate that a parcel thief need not be a human. Aparcel theft bot or drone, for example, may be encompassed by any of thepresent embodiments. For example, in a process similar to any processdescribed herein, after a parcel has been left within the area about theA/V recording and communication device 130, the process may detect aparcel theft bot or drone within the area about the A/V recording andcommunication device 130. The process may also record, with the camera154 of the A/V recording and communication device 130, video images ofthe parcel theft bot or drone within the area about the A/V recordingand communication device 130.

Any of the present embodiments may comprise a designated parcel deliveryarea. For example, a user may designate a particular area about the A/Vrecording and communication device 130 as a parcel delivery area. Theparcel delivery area may be demarcated in any suitable manner, such aswith markings and/or text provided on the pavement and/or adjacentwall(s). Processes of determining whether a parcel has been left withinthe area about the A/V recording and communication device 130 and/ordetermining whether the parcel has been removed from the area about theA/V recording and communication device 130 may comprise determiningwhether an object has been left within and/or removed from thedesignated parcel delivery area. The user may, in some embodiments,direct or aim the camera 154 of the A/V recording and communicationdevice 130 toward the designated parcel delivery area to facilitatedetermining whether an object has been left within and/or removed fromthe designated parcel delivery area.

As described above, the present embodiments advantageously leverage thefunctionality of A/V recording and communication devices to deter parceltheft and/or to identify and apprehend parcel thieves. Variousembodiments may determine when one or more parcels have been left withinand/or removed from the area about the A/V recording and communicationdevice. When one or more parcels are removed from the area about the A/Vrecording and communication device, various embodiments may determinewhether such removal was authorized and, if desired, generate an alert.The user may then determine what, if anything, to do in response to thealert, such as notifying law enforcement and/or sharing video footage ofthe parcel theft, such as via social media.

FIG. 25 is a functional block diagram of a client device 800 on whichthe present embodiments may be implemented according to various aspectsof the present disclosure. The user's client device 114 described withreference to FIG. 1 may include some or all of the components and/orfunctionality of the client device 800. The client device 800 maycomprise, for example, a smartphone.

With reference to FIG. 25, the client device 800 includes a processor802, a memory 804, a user interface 806, a communication module 808, anda dataport 810. These components are communicatively coupled together byan interconnect bus 812. The processor 802 may include any processorused in smartphones and/or portable computing devices, such as an ARMprocessor (a processor based on the RISC (reduced instruction setcomputer) architecture developed by Advanced RISC Machines (ARM).). Insome embodiments, the processor 802 may include one or more otherprocessors, such as one or more conventional microprocessors, and/or oneor more supplementary co-processors, such as math co-processors.

The memory 804 may include both operating memory, such as random accessmemory (RAM), as well as data storage, such as read-only memory (ROM),hard drives, flash memory, or any other suitable memory/storage element.The memory 804 may include removable memory elements, such as aCompactFlash card, a MultiMediaCard (MMC), and/or a Secure Digital (SD)card. In some embodiments, the memory 804 may comprise a combination ofmagnetic, optical, and/or semiconductor memory, and may include, forexample, RAM, ROM, flash drive, and/or a hard disk or drive. Theprocessor 802 and the memory 804 each may be, for example, locatedentirely within a single device, or may be connected to each other by acommunication medium, such as a USB port, a serial port cable, a coaxialcable, an Ethernet-type cable, a telephone line, a radio frequencytransceiver, or other similar wireless or wired medium or combination ofthe foregoing. For example, the processor 802 may be connected to thememory 804 via the dataport 810.

The user interface 806 may include any user interface or presentationelements suitable for a smartphone and/or a portable computing device,such as a keypad, a display screen, a touchscreen, a microphone, and aspeaker. The communication module 808 is configured to handlecommunication links between the client device 800 and other, externaldevices or receivers, and to route incoming/outgoing data appropriately.For example, inbound data from the dataport 810 may be routed throughthe communication module 808 before being directed to the processor 802,and outbound data from the processor 802 may be routed through thecommunication module 808 before being directed to the dataport 810. Thecommunication module 808 may include one or more transceiver modulescapable of transmitting and receiving data, and using, for example, oneor more protocols and/or technologies, such as GSM, UMTS (3GSM), IS-95(CDMA one), IS-2000 (CDMA 2000), LTE, FDMA, TDMA, W-CDMA, CDMA, OFDMA,Wi-Fi, WiMAX, or any other protocol and/or technology.

The dataport 810 may be any type of connector used for physicallyinterfacing with a smartphone and/or a portable computing device, suchas a mini-USB port or an IPHONE®/IPOD® 30-pin connector or LIGHTNING®connector. In other embodiments, the dataport 810 may include multiplecommunication channels for simultaneous communication with, for example,other processors, servers, and/or client terminals.

The memory 804 may store instructions for communicating with othersystems, such as a computer. The memory 804 may store, for example, aprogram (e.g., computer program code) adapted to direct the processor802 in accordance with the present embodiments. The instructions alsomay include program elements, such as an operating system. Whileexecution of sequences of instructions in the program causes theprocessor 802 to perform the process steps described herein, hard-wiredcircuitry may be used in place of, or in combination with,software/firmware instructions for implementation of the processes ofthe present embodiments. Thus, the present embodiments are not limitedto any specific combination of hardware and software.

FIG. 26 is a functional block diagram of a general-purpose computingsystem on which the present embodiments may be implemented according tovarious aspects of the present disclosure. The computer system 900 maybe embodied in at least one of a personal computer (also referred to asa desktop computer) 900A, a portable computer (also referred to as alaptop or notebook computer) 900B, and/or a server 900C. A server is acomputer program and/or a machine that waits for requests from othermachines or software (clients) and responds to them. A server typicallyprocesses data. The purpose of a server is to share data and/or hardwareand/or software resources among clients. This architecture is called theclient-server model. The clients may run on the same computer or mayconnect to the server over a network. Examples of computing serversinclude database servers, file servers, mail servers, print servers, webservers, game servers, and application servers. The term server may beconstrued broadly to include any computerized process that shares aresource to one or more client processes.

The computer system 900 may execute at least some of the operationsdescribed above. The computer system 900 may include at least oneprocessor 910, memory 920, at least one storage device 930, andinput/output (I/O) devices 940. Some or all of the components 910, 920,930, 940 may be interconnected via a system bus 950. The processor 910may be single- or multi-threaded and may have one or more cores. Theprocessor 910 may execute instructions, such as those stored in thememory 920 and/or in the storage device 930. Information may be receivedand output using one or more I/O devices 940.

The memory 920 may store information, and may be a computer-readablemedium, such as volatile or non-volatile memory. The storage device(s)930 may provide storage for the system 900, and may be acomputer-readable medium. In various aspects, the storage device(s) 930may be a flash memory device, a hard disk device, an optical diskdevice, a tape device, or any other type of storage device.

The I/O devices 940 may provide input/output operations for the system900. The I/O devices 940 may include a keyboard, a pointing device,and/or a microphone. The I/O devices 940 may further include a displayunit for displaying graphical user interfaces, a speaker, and/or aprinter. External data may be stored in one or more accessible externaldatabases 960.

The features of the present embodiments described herein may beimplemented in digital electronic circuitry, and/or in computerhardware, firmware, software, and/or in combinations thereof. Featuresof the present embodiments may be implemented in a computer programproduct tangibly embodied in an information carrier, such as amachine-readable storage device, and/or in a propagated signal, forexecution by a programmable processor. Embodiments of the present methodsteps may be performed by a programmable processor executing a programof instructions to perform functions of the described implementations byoperating on input data and generating output.

The features of the present embodiments described herein may beimplemented in one or more computer programs that are executable on aprogrammable system including at least one programmable processorcoupled to receive data and/or instructions from, and to transmit dataand/or instructions to, a data storage system, at least one inputdevice, and at least one output device. A computer program may include aset of instructions that may be used, directly or indirectly, in acomputer to perform a certain activity or bring about a certain result.A computer program may be written in any form of programming language,including compiled or interpreted languages, and it may be deployed inany form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component,subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment.

Suitable processors for the execution of a program of instructions mayinclude, for example, both general and special purpose processors,and/or the sole processor or one of multiple processors of any kind ofcomputer. Generally, a processor may receive instructions and/or datafrom a read only memory (ROM), or a random access memory (RAM), or both.Such a computer may include a processor for executing instructions andone or more memories for storing instructions and/or data.

Generally, a computer may also include, or be operatively coupled tocommunicate with, one or more mass storage devices for storing datafiles. Such devices include magnetic disks, such as internal hard disksand/or removable disks, magneto-optical disks, and/or optical disks.Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computer programinstructions and/or data may include all forms of non-volatile memory,including for example semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM,EEPROM, and flash memory devices, magnetic disks such as internal harddisks and removable disks, magneto-optical disks, and CD-ROM and DVD-ROMdisks. The processor and the memory may be supplemented by, orincorporated in, one or more ASICs (application-specific integratedcircuits).

To provide for interaction with a user, the features of the presentembodiments may be implemented on a computer having a display device,such as an LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, for displayinginformation to the user. The computer may further include a keyboard, apointing device, such as a mouse or a trackball, and/or a touchscreen bywhich the user may provide input to the computer.

The features of the present embodiments may be implemented in a computersystem that includes a back-end component, such as a data server, and/orthat includes a middleware component, such as an application server oran Internet server, and/or that includes a front-end component, such asa client computer having a graphical user interface (GUI) and/or anInternet browser, or any combination of these. The components of thesystem may be connected by any form or medium of digital datacommunication, such as a communication network. Examples ofcommunication networks may include, for example, a LAN (local areanetwork), a WAN (wide area network), and/or the computers and networksforming the Internet.

The computer system may include clients and servers. A client and servermay be remote from each other and interact through a network, such asthose described herein. The relationship of client and server may ariseby virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers andhaving a client-server relationship to each other.

The above description presents the best mode contemplated for carryingout the present embodiments, and of the manner and process of practicingthem, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable anyperson skilled in the art to which they pertain to practice theseembodiments. The present embodiments are, however, susceptible tomodifications and alternate constructions from those discussed abovethat are fully equivalent. Consequently, the present invention is notlimited to the particular embodiments disclosed. On the contrary, thepresent invention covers all modifications and alternate constructionscoming within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Forexample, the steps in the processes described herein need not beperformed in the same order as they have been presented, and may beperformed in any order(s). Further, steps that have been presented asbeing performed separately may in alternative embodiments be performedconcurrently. Likewise, steps that have been presented as beingperformed concurrently may in alternative embodiments be performedseparately.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for an audio/video (A/V) recording andcommunication device, the device including a camera, the methodcomprising: determining that a parcel has been left within an area aboutthe A/V recording and communication device; determining that the parcelhas been removed from the area about the A/V recording and communicationdevice; determining whether removal of the parcel from the area aboutthe A/V recording and communication device was authorized; and when theremoval of the parcel from the area about the A/V recording andcommunication device is determined to have been unauthorized, generatingan alert.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the parcelhas been left within the area about the A/V recording and communicationdevice comprises comparing video frames recorded by the camera of theA/V recording and communication device.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein determining that the parcel has been left in the area about theA/V recording and communication device comprises receiving informationfrom a carrier that delivered the parcel.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein determining that the parcel has been left within the area aboutthe A/V recording and communication device comprises automaticidentification and data capture (AIDC).
 5. The method of claim 4,wherein the AIDC comprises at least one of a barcode, a matrix code, abokode, and radio frequency identification (RFID).
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein determining that the parcel has been removed from thearea about the A/V recording and communication device comprisescomparing video frames recorded by the camera of the A/V recording andcommunication device.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining thatthe parcel has been removed from the area about the A/V recording andcommunication device comprises automatic identification and data capture(AIDC).
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the AIDC comprises radiofrequency identification (RFID).
 9. The method of claim 1, whereindetermining whether removal of the parcel from the area about the A/Vrecording and communication device was authorized comprises detecting adirection of movement of the parcel.
 10. The method of claim 1, whereindetermining whether removal of the parcel from the area about the A/Vrecording and communication device was authorized comprises automaticidentification and data capture (AIDC).
 11. The method of claim 10,wherein the AIDC comprises at least one of a barcode, a matrix code, abokode, radio frequency identification (RFID), a smart card, a magneticstripe, optical character recognition (OCR), biometrics, voicerecognition, facial recognition, three-dimensional facial recognition,and skin texture analysis.
 12. The method of claim 10, furthercomprising comparing information received through the AIDC toinformation about one or more persons.
 13. The method of claim 12,wherein the one or more persons comprise at least one perpetrator of oneor more parcel thefts.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the one ormore parcel thefts occurred within a defined radius about the A/Vrecording and communication device.
 15. The method of claim 1, whereinthe alert comprises an alert signal sent to a client device.
 16. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the alert comprises an audible alarm emittedfrom a speaker of the A/V recording and communication device.
 17. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the alert comprises an announcement emittedfrom a speaker of the A/V recording and communication device, theannouncement comprising a warning that the area about the A/V recordingand communication device is being recorded.
 18. The method of claim 1,further comprising identifying the parcel.
 19. The method of claim 18,wherein identifying the parcel comprises the camera of the A/V recordingand communication device capturing an image of an identifying mark onthe parcel.
 20. A method for an audio/video (A/V) recording andcommunication device, the device including a camera, the methodcomprising: determining that a parcel has been left within an area aboutthe A/V recording and communication device; after the parcel has beenleft within the area about the A/V recording and communication device,detecting a person within the area about the A/V recording andcommunication device; recording, with the camera of the A/V recordingand communication device, video images of the person within the areaabout the A/V recording and communication device; and emitting an alertfrom the speaker of the A/V recording and communication device.
 21. Themethod of claim 20, wherein the alert comprises an audible alarm. 22.The method of claim 20, wherein the alert comprises an announcementwarning the detected person that he or she is being recorded.
 23. Amethod for an audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device, thedevice including a camera, the method comprising: determining that aparcel has been left within an area about the A/V recording andcommunication device, wherein determining that the parcel has been leftwithin the area about the A/V recording and communication devicecomprises comparing video frames recorded by the camera of the A/Vrecording and communication device; determining that the parcel has beenremoved from the area about the A/V recording and communication device,wherein determining that the parcel has been removed from the area aboutthe A/V recording and communication device comprises comparing videoframes recorded by the camera of the A/V recording and communicationdevice; determining whether removal of the parcel from the area aboutthe A/V recording and communication device was authorized, whereindetermining whether removal of the parcel from the area about the A/Vrecording and communication device was authorized comprises automaticidentification and data capture (AIDC); and when the removal of theparcel from the area about the A/V recording and communication device isdetermined to have been unauthorized, generating an alert.
 24. Themethod of claim 23, wherein the AIDC comprises at least one of radiofrequency identification (RFID) and biometrics.
 25. The method of claim23, wherein the AIDC comprises the camera of the A/V recording andcommunication device capturing an image of a person in the area aboutthe A/V recording and communication device.
 26. The method of claim 25,wherein the image of the person comprises an image of the person's face.27. The method of claim 25, further comprising comparing the image ofthe person to at least one image of at least one other person.
 28. Themethod of claim 27, wherein the removal of the parcel from the areaabout the A/V recording and communication device is determined to havebeen unauthorized when there is a match between the image of the personcaptured by the camera of the A/V recording and communication device andthe at least one image of the at least one other person.
 29. A methodfor an audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device, the deviceincluding a processor and a camera, the device being communicativelyconnected to at least one network device, the method comprising:determining that a parcel has been left within an area about the A/Vrecording and communication device, wherein determining that the parcelhas been left within the area about the A/V recording and communicationdevice comprises the processor of the A/V recording and communicationdevice comparing video frames recorded by the camera of the A/Vrecording and communication device; determining that the parcel has beenremoved from the area about the A/V recording and communication device,wherein determining that the parcel has been removed from the area aboutthe A/V recording and communication device comprises the processor ofthe A/V recording and communication device comparing video framesrecorded by the camera of the A/V recording and communication device;determining whether removal of the parcel from the area about the A/Vrecording and communication device was authorized, wherein determiningwhether removal of the parcel from the area about the A/V recording andcommunication device was authorized comprises automatic identificationand data capture (AIDC); and when the removal of the parcel from thearea about the A/V recording and communication device is determined tohave been unauthorized, generating an alert.
 30. The method of claim 29,wherein the AIDC comprises at least one of radio frequencyidentification (RFID) and biometrics.
 31. The method of claim 29,wherein the AIDC comprises the camera of the A/V recording andcommunication device capturing an image of a person in the area aboutthe A/V recording and communication device.
 32. The method of claim 31,wherein the image of the person comprises an image of the person's face.33. The method of claim 31, further comprising the at least one networkdevice receiving the image of the person.
 34. The method of claim 33,further comprising the at least one network device comparing the imageof the person to at least one image of at least one other person. 35.The method of claim 34, wherein the removal of the parcel from the areaabout the A/V recording and communication device is determined to havebeen unauthorized when there is a match between the image of the personcaptured by the camera of the A/V recording and communication device andthe at least one image of the at least one other person.